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Since 1971, OnStage has entertained Atlanta audiences with its permanent professional ensemble in an intimate theater. Viewers frustrated by the lack of closure provided by eavesdropping on conversations in public places flock to the company's eclectic mix of works.

For more than 20 years, Carrie Heller's life has been a balancing act between honing her circus talents and helping others. Today, the licensed clinical social worker, a founding member of the American Youth Circus Organization, blends therapy methods with big-top techniques at the Circus Arts Institute, benefiting children and adults alike with mind- and body-benefiting acrobatics that send students swinging, twirling, and laughing through the air.
Carrie and her team of instructors acquaint students with circus-performance fundamentals using the trapeze, tight wire, Spanish web, and juggling balls. They bolster core and upper-body strength during Circus Arts Fitness workouts, which have been featured on CNN for their exciting approach to toning. For students with special needs, such as sensory challenges or ADD, they host Circus Arts Therapy classes. These sessions channel playful and positive energy as small groups learn to navigate circus equipment, enhancing their confidence, social skills, and physical coordination in a much more natural way than going on a handstand speed date.

Since 2006, Academy Ballroom Atlanta's instructors have helped competitive and social dancers two-step toward mastery of ballroom and Latin dance styles. Their classes range in style from the fiery moves of salsa to the elegant steps of the waltz to the boisterous footwork of swing, all of which can be scaled to suit varying abilities. During private lessons, the teachers' personalized attention helps develop each pupil's dance floor skills before they improve their patterns and techniques among peers at group classes. Those lessons culminate in group practice sessions, during which guests review their newfound moves while making an effort not to dip their partner into another dimension. Along with in-studio training, Academy Ballroom Atlanta hosts monthly semiformal dance parties, and its performance company, Atlanta Ballroom Dance Theater, wows crowds with shows—up to 90 minutes long—performed by professional and pro-am dancers.

One of the great surprises about Atlanta is its bustling local theater scene. Actor’s Express is one of the most reliable and innovative groups in town, always focusing on challenging, creative work. Located in the King Plow Arts Center in West Midtown, the theater itself is rather intimate. You can easily spot the actors in the lobby after the show to congratulate them on a job well done, but the quality is equal to that of Atlanta’s larger, haughtier venues. Founded in 1988, Actor’s Express has always believed in pushing the boundaries of the local theater scene, as evidenced by recent productions like the sexy drama Venus in Fur and the historical rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. They also incorporate classics like Equus and Kiss of the Spider Woman into their seasons. Annual subscriptions are available, which make for an inexpensive and interesting gift.

Horizon Theatre Company is one of Atlanta’s longest-running small theaters, with a devoted following of season ticketholders. Located in the heart of Little Five Points, it is convenient to several local restaurants like The Vortex, but if you skip dinner before the show you can always indulge in one of the theater’s giant cookie-dough cookies. This company is known for comedic favorites like The Waffle Palace and David Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries; these productions return year after year and are always popular. The shows also include offerings for the younger set like Madeline’s Christmas, as well as more adult-focused works by local writers, like Third Country and The Book Club Play. Seating is general admission, with certain sections reserved for subscribers. But the Horizon Theatre Company is intimate enough that there really isn’t a bad spot in the house.

Throughout nearly seven decades, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has bridged musical gaps with an extensive catalog of Grammy-winning recordings that include symphonies, operas, and both gospel and classical choral works. Once helmed by the chorale superstar Robert Shaw, the orchestra has produced six Grammy-winning releases in its 12 years under current director Robert Spano. Its allied institution, the Atlanta School of Composers, provides training, support, and ear massages for hardworking contemporary artists.

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Everyone in Atlanta knows about the touring Broadway productions that roll through the Fox Theatre, or the stunning large-scale shows that transform the Tony Award-winning Alliance. But not everyone takes the time to check out the smaller, independent theater companies doing wonderful work in and around the city. For a fraction of the cost of the bigger venues, one can catch edgier productions or local classics at many of these spaces. Here are some of the city’s best.
Located in West Downtown’s King Plow Arts Center, on the grounds of a former plow factory, Actor’s Express is one of the more contemporary theater venues in Atlanta. From modern classics like Six Degrees of Separation to steamier fare like Venus in Fur, this tiny black box theater offers provocative, exciting productions for discerning theatergoers. And with plenty of restaurants nearby, it’s easy to make a relatively inexpensive evening into something fun and different.
OnStage Atlanta is a more family-friendly company, with recent shows including CLUE: The Musical, Seussical Jr. (featuring local child performers), and The Drowsy Chaperone. Sure, the theater space is downright tiny, but that just makes patrons feel like they’re a part of the production, particularly with interactive shows like Chaperone. OnStage Atlanta is also a great way to introduce children to the theater, since they may be intimidated by more formal venues.
On the avant garde side of Atlanta’s theater world, you’ll find Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre. The troupe performs in a church on Ponce de Leon Avenue and focuses on bringing newer, artistically daring staged pieces to the city. Recent productions have included works by current off-Broadway darling Annie Baker and alt-theater renegade Neil LaBute, as well as passion projects written by local playwrights. These shows are often not for the faint of heart or morally queasy, and they attract a younger demographic than at other theatres – and occasionally there may be as many people in a show’s ensemble as in the audience itself – but there’s no denying Pinch ‘N’ Ouch’s dedication to Atlanta’s thriving theater scene.
Whether you are interested in a stimulating and challenging evening of theater, or you just want to take the kids to something fun, Atlanta’s local circuit of independent theaters offers plenty of year-round options.